Karen Friel, PT, DHS
Associate Professor & Chair

Dr. Karen Friel, PT, DHS has undergraduate degrees in both psychology and physical therapy from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. She obtained the Master of Health Science degree in Physical Therapy from Krannert School of Physical Therapy at the University of Indianapolis in December 1994, and her Doctorate in Health Sciences from Krannert in May 2004. Her area of specialty is rehabilitation of the individual with lower limb amputation, and her research agenda is focused on low back pain as it relates to lower limb amputation, and other biomechanical considerations.

Dr. Friel’s clinical experience includes acute care, orthopedics, neurological rehabilitation and pediatrics. She has had numerous presentations at both the state and national level and she is an active member of both the Long Island District of the American Physical Therapy Association and the Academic Administrator’s Special Interest Group. In 2004, Dr. Friel received the “Outstanding Teaching Award” for the School of Health Professions, Behavioral and Life Sciences.

Dr. Friel has experience teaching at the physical therapist assistant level and was a founding member of the NYIT Department of Physical Therapy. She became Chair of the Department in 2004.

Recent publications include:

Hewson K, Friel K. A Unique Preclinical Experience: Concurrent Mock and Pro Bono Clinics to Enhance Student Readiness. Journal of Physical Therapy Education, Spring 2004.

Friel K. The Effects and Interactions of Vitamin D Deficiency, Calcium and Parathyroid Hormone on Physical Concerns in the Elderly: A Review. Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy, 2004.

Friel K. Prosthetic Componentry for Lower Extremity Amputations: A Review. Journal of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.

Friel K, Domholdt E, Smith DG. Physical and Functional Measures related to Low Back Pain in Individuals with Lower Limb Amputation. Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development., March/April 2005.